Trying to break like SVB

EAGLETRICKSHOTS

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
First of all, note that the title says "Trying" so please understand that I'm not saying that I got a break even near as good as Shane has. Well,SVB has been my favorite player for a while now, but after watching the last TAR match, he has inspired me to work on my break. He has a very few advantages over me like having longer arms, being taller and having more muscle strength but I gotta work with what I got. I filmed the 4 days of working on my break, and cut out about 63 break shots ( could have done 100 but it just takes too long to edit) and put them into one video.
Here is the link to the video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjfurPlVNlM
You might see or might not, my small improvement over the 4 days, as I get more consistent with control towards the end of the video. You will also see that I scratched a few times, got hooked for my next shot or I didnt make any ball. Also, after the break the CB gets kicked a lot since its a 8foot table, and the felt is pretty worn out so the balls wont freeze in the rack sometimes, for a better break.
Thank you,
Iulian.
 
Can you say where you hit the cue ball and where are you aiming on 1 ball?

Suggestion
Put your cam higher, to get a more clear picture how the balls are spreading after the break.
 
Break Shot Notes

You did a great job here. I know it's a real pain to edit this type of video and you did a great job. Here are two thoughts: 1) You are doing an excellent job with your extension of level follow through. This is one of the keys to a great break. 2) Slow your back swing. Smooth slow draw back every time. Never get in a hurry. Perform the ceremony each time. You only get to break a few times. Make them count.
 
Nice break, You do better than most at squatting the cueball.


The rack is loose on 90% of the breaks. 2nd balls should go within half a diamond of the side everytime. Get a magic rack or tap the table.

It looks like you're hitting the cue ball with bottom right on every break. Try center ball or half a tip above center or half tip below center.

Use your back fingers on your grip hand to get power. Extend your fingers on the backstroke and squeeze them on the way forward. I would work on doing that without moving your body.

Once you have that mastered, add your body into the mix. Shane moves his body forward and upward at the same time as the back swing. Also try locking your left shoulder into your chin throughout the break so your shoulders don't move.
 
You have a pretty nice break. I really need to practice on mine. I'm more intrigued with how you managed to change shirts, gloves, and even get a hair cut all while breaking racks. Bravo! ;)
 
Big improvement towards the middle. Start your upward move earlier and slower like a pitcher winding up. Work on those off center hits. Be aware that you are pulling your hand in towards your body on your forward stroke. It is coming inside the line set in your warm up strokes. That is not necessarily a bad thing. You can compensate for it in your setup.
 
BarTableMan...Just so you know, how FAR you followthrough has ZERO bearing on how "good" your break is/will be. The CB is gone as soon as you touch it with your tip. Once it's gone from the tip, nothing you do afterwards (such as an extended followthrough) has any effect on the outcome. The break is about an accurate hit on the OB you're shooting at, coupled with good cuestick speed, and excellent timing. A loose grip will help let the cuestick do the work.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

1) You are doing an excellent job with your extension of level follow through. This is one of the keys to a great break. .
 
I've studied many of the top breakers & I can give you some tips on the "SVB break".

1) You need to work on your timing if you are committed to emulating SVB. Watch these videos & pay particular attention to the timing of his body movement to his arm release. He draws the cue back, releases his body, & THEN his arm. You are blurring them together & this is a KEY to the "SVB break".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zg4KMjgY0k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA3JCQuEu-U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcNyh2b739o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsb9oPFyUNs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YCBs6T2kMI

2) A second KEY for you to work on is a solid hit on the head ball. SVB punches the rack so well because he hits the head ball dead on with NO side spin. This puts MAXIMUM energy into the rack. Your CB is curling to the side (from hitting the 1B off center) and then spinning like a top (from the tip hitting it off center). Adjust your aim point & then watch for a tendency for your side spin (I noted that you are hitting the CB to the left of center). You might need to pick a spot within the rack to aim at & offset your tip to cancel out your side spin.
 
Great videos

I've studied many of the top breakers & I can give you some tips on the "SVB break".

1) You need to work on your timing if you are committed to emulating SVB. Watch these videos & pay particular attention to the timing of his body movement to his arm release. He draws the cue back, releases his body, & THEN his arm. You are blurring them together & this is a KEY to the "SVB break".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zg4KMjgY0k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA3JCQuEu-U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcNyh2b739o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsb9oPFyUNs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YCBs6T2kMI

2) A second KEY for you to work on is a solid hit on the head ball. SVB punches the rack so well because he hits the head ball dead on with NO side spin. This puts MAXIMUM energy into the rack. Your CB is curling to the side (from hitting the 1B off center) and then spinning like a top (from the tip hitting it off center). Adjust your aim point & then watch for a tendency for your side spin (I noted that you are hitting the CB to the left of center). You might need to pick a spot within the rack to aim at & offset your tip to cancel out your side spin.

These are great clips, is it just me...or does it seem like he's got to be using wrist to do most the work?
It doesn't even look like he's hardly moving...so controlled its unbelievable. Explains why he hits em so dead center...he moves slow, controlled and deliberate. WOW-awesome!!!
 
This is why I love this forum. Was just thinking man I need to spend some real time practicing my break. Fire up AZB this is the first thread I see with great advice and great info on breaking better. Loved the video, thought you were gonna break your phone on one of those. Gotta go work on slowing my backswing I do like the op and go super quick and I know it's costing me.
 
This was an awesome video-I really liked it, can't wait to try some of these things:-)

Thx for sharing

You're welcome. I've shorted my bridge and also have come up a little closer with my back hand. I'm not going to break as hard but my control is better. People at the 'OPH' comment now hard it seems that I'm hitting the break and the balls are spread all over the table. I have to make sure that I'm hitting the head ball DEAD ON, no matter what angle I breaking from.
 
These are very good resources so improve my break. Shane sure does have one of the most complicated breaks to learn.
 
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